What is the primary goal of rescue breathing?

The primary goal of rescue breathing is to provide oxygen to a victim's bloodstream. During a respiratory emergency, when a person is unable to breathe effectively, the body's oxygen levels can drop significantly, leading to potential organ damage and death if not addressed promptly. Rescue breathing involves delivering breaths to the victim to help elevate their oxygen saturation levels, allowing vital organs to receive the oxygen they need to function properly.

In this context, ensuring the heart continues beating is closely related to CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) procedures, where chest compressions support heart function. Protecting the airway from obstruction is crucial in many scenarios, but it does not directly describe the primary goal of rescue breathing, which focuses on oxygen delivery. Stimulating the victim to breathe on their own could occur naturally during rescue breathing, but it is not the primary intention of the technique; the immediate objective is to ensure adequate oxygenation until professional help arrives or the victim starts breathing independently.